Gordon Hayward #20 of the Utah Jazz walks off the court looking at scoreboard, as they lost 102-91 to the Golden State Warriors in Game Three of the Western Conference Semifinals during the 2017 NBA Playoffs at Vivint Smart Home Arena on May 6, 2017 in Salt Lake City, Utah. (Photo by Gene Sweeney Jr/Getty Images)

“I regret ever making that statement because now that’s always out there,” Riley said in April.

“You don’t have to go… whale hunting. I think you can acquire — and I think you’ll be required sometimes to get key players via trade — in that aspect instead of going out laying out $38 million for a guy. Some of these guys’ max contracts are ridiculous. But that’s the nature of the new collective-bargaining agreement.”

But maybe Riley doesn’t regret it that much after all. ESPN NBA reporter Marc Stein tweeted Friday morning, “Free Agency Scuttle: Volume is rising on the whispers that the team worrying Utah in Gordon Hayward’s free agency is Miami as much as Boston.”

Free Agency Scuttle: Volume is rising on the whispers that the team worrying Utah in Gordon Hayward's free agency is Miami as much as Boston

Many assumed the Celtics were Utah’s lone challenger in the Gordon Hayward sweepstakes this summer. The fit in Boston seems obvious, as Celtics coach Brad Stevens coached the small forward in college and the Celtics look like they are close to competing for a championship after making it to the Eastern Conference Finals this season.

But never count out the Heat. Miami is expected to have about $38 million in cap space after it clears Chris Bosh’s contract off their salary cap and that number could go up to $42 million if the Heat decide to release and use the stretch provision on Josh McRoberts’ contract.

Hayward is expected to exercise the opt-out clause in his contract this summer and pass on the $16.7 million owed to him to become a free agent. The 27-year-old will likely get a max contract with a starting salary of about $31 million next season, a number the Heat are expected to have space for this summer.

But Hayward can get more money from the Jazz than he can from any other team this offseason. The Jazz can offer him a five-year contract worth about $177 million, while any other team can offer him a four-year contract worth about $132 million.

If the Heat were to land Hayward, Miami could throw out a starting lineup of Goran Dragic, Josh Richardson, Hayward, Justise Winslow and Hassan Whiteside next season. In this scenario, the Heat almost certainly wouldn’t have enough money to retain Dion Waiters and James Johnson, but maybe one of those two impending free agents could decide to return at a discount.

Hayward is coming off his best season averaging 21.9 points and 5.4 rebounds while shooting 47.1 percent from the field and 39.8 percent on 3-pointers for Utah.

“I want to play for [a championship],” Riley said in April. “That’s what we want to compete for. So, that’s what it’s always been about and that’s what it will be about. I don’t know how this summer is going to work out.”